Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-07-15
THE TOWN CLOCK.
THE vIGILANT OLD KEEPER OF TIME
,yuAnr,r 11Ac COMMUNICATING OF

\
THE vIGILANT OLD KEEPER OF TIME
WHAT IT HAS DoNE-soMETHINa OF
ITS HISTORY.
Who in Staunton, and in the Immediate
vicinity too, for that matter, does not re-
spect, admire. love the Town Clock3 Sure
Iy all, at one time or another, look at the
grand faces of the kindly old time-piece
as it stands high above them with four
faces into which all who will may look
and see, by the pointing fingers, the time
as indicated there; or, without looking,
may hear the musical and deep-toned voice
as every hour of time is marked.
The town clock is vigllant, tireless,
ever-going public servant OF the people
over whom it watches. 1t has marked
the time for many a gathering OF merry
joyous crowds; Of many sad, sorrowing
assemblage; of many meeting in time of
peace and war; it has told the lover it was
time for his visit to his best girl, and it
has warned him of the approach of the
paternal boot-toe; it has shown the school
boy and girl that they must hurry or be
late at the place Of learning, and has said
now you can 60, tree from study and
ferrule, to play and enjoyment" it has
shown the prisoner in his cell that he must
step forth to his trial, and has spoken the
time Of his acquittal or sentences; it has
seen people and enterprises come and de-
part-in short, the town clock has done
more in its way than any other citizen
land it seems entitled to be called CITIZEN
of the town for the public generally, and
there it is to-day. after proving true to its,
trust for so many years, telling, striving,
never ceasing, going forward ever, press
ing onward for its admiring and, it is no.
doubted, appreciative friends. It has co3ss
cred itself with glory. and its name-T0EsE
Clock-has been ''household word" ai3ge
to the infant and the time worn piigrInSs}
The Town Clock is in the tower OF Mle
Lutheran church, corner Main and w Ger
streets. 1t could not be located at a d s're
suitable place for the convenience ofREbe
public, as it is near the new postofficYaand
for long time the postof1ice in itsf old
quarters was opposite the clock. f
A bit of history IN regard to the Es own
Clock is not untimely here. Fl,
In June, 1854, an appropriation III $3.50
was made by the Council of the tEEn Of
Stanton, towards the purchase oGSs. town
clock, to be placed IN the towerMof the
Lutheran church. The money xas paid
in the following February.
AT that time N. X. Trout Wa Mayor,
and A. J. CARRIER was RecQSSler. The
Councilmen were-T. p. EskrIEge, Il. M.
Simpson, Jas. A. McCluug, E. ". Cush-
ing, S. M. Yost, John Brandeburg, JET
ferson Kinney, B. F. Points. FL. Of. Bell
and John B. Baldwin. In the sane month
(June) Councilman Baldwin resigned, aud
M. e. Hartman was elected as his success
sor. In December following Jefferson
Kinney also resigned, and Jos. N. W ood-
ward succeeded bim.
On April 3, 1856. a deed frem the trus-
tees of the Lutheran church to the town
transferring the control of She clock, was
presented to the Council aud accepted by
that body. The deed stated that the
county of Augusta, by order of court en-
tered November %, 1868, agreed TO con-
tribute toward the purchase and erection
of the clock, upon condition that the trus-
tees of the church would transfer the con-
troll of the clock to the Council of Staun-
ton, so as to secure perman emit repair and
safe keeping for the benefit of the public
On May 8, 1882, the construction of a
step stsp, wa to the clock ya' ordered This
e. Brownold, jeweler, TO wind up the
clock and keep it running in correct time
for the sum of $50 per annum, payable
quarterly, was accepted. =. Mr.. Brown
old continued to keep the clock in order
until he left Staunton for Charlestown,
W. Va, several years ago, when the service
was turned over TO his brother, DIR. David
Brownold, who has attended to it since
that time.
On May 2, 1876. an appropriation of
500 was made to repair the roof Of the
church tower and for re-painting the
faces of the clock.
July Is, 1878, the care and control of
the clock was, by resolution offered at
meeting of the Council, transferred to the
Committee on Public Buildings.
Thus it will be seen that for over thirty
years the Town Clock has been perform
ing It's work for the benefit of the people.
60 on, old clock, and may you never
grow ''Weary in well-doing,''